COUNTY plate winners Loughborough U13s pulled off an impressive victory beating County Cup winners Market Harborough at Derby Road. Harborough kicked off the first half, and Loughborough signalled their intent to play keep ball with a succession of drives down the field that took them beyond the opposition 22m line.

With the ball taken to ground, Emile Wainwright’s drop kick sailed between the posts to open the scoring with the team’s first ever drop-goal.

Two minutes later, Kane Dalby broke the Harborough defences to score the first try of the game. Wainwright’s conversion attempt was straight but fell slightly short, leaving the home team with an 8-0 lead.

Both teams battled with Loughborough’s pack dominating, winning scrums off either feed. Despite their pressure, Harborough were next to score with an unconverted try.

It was now Harborough’s domination that saw them drive to towards the Loughborough posts. The home team conceded a penalty Harborough converted for 8-8 and they ended the half a converted try to lead 15-8.

The second half saw a resurgent Loughborough take on the Harborough forwards again. Harborough conceded a penalty on the 22m line and Billy Wright’s quick tap and pass fed Kyle Bailey who took the 10m closer to the line. A second penalty was awarded and the same play resulted in Bailey crashing over the line to open. Wainwright conversion gave the home team a two point lead.

After eight minutes, with Loughborough once again exerting all of the pressure, Harborough conceded a penalty again inside their own 22. A quick tap and run from Ben Kirby saw him cross the line with Wainwright’s second conversion making it 24-15.

The match then ebbed and flowed with both teams playing outstanding rugby. With 16 minutes gone, it was Harborough that turned a penalty in their own half into a try with some excellent passing.

The conversion was missed, leaving the home team with a four point lead. The teams continued to test each other for the remainder of the second half without adding to the score.

Loughborough U10s 1 Vipers 4

THE first game saw the host club start strongly with some simple play through their big forwards. Loughborough struggled to find a rhythm and soon found themselves two tries down.

Another try early in the second half did not dent the Loughborough spirit. George Mulligan lead the charge and came close to scoring but was forced into touch, inches short from the try line. Vipers scored again but still Loughborough fought back and were rewarded with a try after Ibrahim Al Rawi surged forward only to be stopped a metre out, Will Zann then ripped the ball and weaved his way through to touch down in the corner.

Loughborough U10s 0 Vipers 1

IN GAME two Vipers opened the scoring in the first half despite brave tackling from the whole Loughborough side. The second half saw Vipers again on the attack but the defence stood firm. Cameron Hales putting in a try saving smother tackle to hold the ball up. Centres Spencer Ward and Adam Melia were solid in defence whilst scrum half Adam Wilkes caused problems with his darting breaks. Ibrahim Al Rawi on the wing had his opposite number beat for pace and suffocated any attacks on the wing.

Loughborough U10s 0 Vipers 2

IN A scoreless first half in game three, Adam Wilkes and Tom Christian both came close after incisive runs. Lewis King showed his pace to test the opposition but no tries came.

Finally in the second half the Vipers heavier forwards rumbled over to score twice despite valiant defence by Spencer Ward and Maxim Westwood. Will Zann continued to cause concern to the Vipers defence but Loughborough were unable to claim a score.

Loughborough U8s County Tag tournament.

Oadby Wigston 7 Loughborough 6

THE first match was tit-for-tat with neither team able to tag effectively and scoring alternately. Defensive efforts by Alex Bown and Euan Kitching could not prevent an early try from the opposition but a loose pass let in Ewan Moody in for Loughborough’s first.

Further careless passing and dropped balls led to another for Oadby Wigs the one for Kitching after a solo run.

The second half followed the same pattern with good defence especially by Tom Fraser and Cameron Shaw leading to tries for Bown (2), George Rowe and Edward Gossage. Unfortunately Oadby Wigs equalised each time and the winning margin was thanks to a try which appeared to be short of the line.

Lutterworth 3 Loughborough 9

LOUGHBOROUGH defended much more strongly and looked well organised, quickly taking control of the game with two superb runs by Laurie Field leading to tries for himself and then Tyler Lee.

The third came after a solo run by Kitching then excellent tagging by Field, Lee and Rowe gave Loughborough turnover ball and another score for Field.

Another turnover allowed King to score two either side of half time. Loughborough continued to defend strongly via Fraser, Shaw and Will O’Neill. They capitalised well on several dropped balls and scored again through Fraser, Gossage and Field.

Market Harborough 4 Loughborough 3

THE third match was riddled with errors on both sides, Loughborough strung some excellent passes together only to drop the ball on the line then be forced into touch.

The opposition scored first but Loughborough managed to draw level after good support play between Moody and Gossage setting up Lee.

Kitching, Moody and O’Neill battled hard and were finally rewarded with two tries for Fraser before half time. Despite working hard in the second half Loughborough were thwarted by forward passes and handling errors.

Second round Coalville 6 Loughborough 9

LOUGHBOROUGH started the match strongly and a series of excellent passes from Rowe, Gossage, Field and Fraser lead to tries for Bown and Fraser. Field continued his fantastic run of form with strong tagging and was only denied a further try when pushed into touch.

A brilliant run by King resulted in try followed by two more for Shaw and another for King. Coalville did not allow Loughborough to dominate the second half and it became a more physical encounter with periods of scrappy play and some injuries.

However determined play from the whole team paid off with tries for Rowe, Shaw and finally Kitching after running the length of the pitch. O’Neill and Fraser with both unlucky not to add their names to the score sheet in the dying moments.

Plate final Leicester Lions 4 Loughborough 3

THE final was to be an even more physical affair with some of the opposition having to be reminded that tag rules (i.e. non-contact) still apply! Loughborough scored twice via Rowe in the early stages after good support play from Lee, Kitching, Moody and Shaw.

Lions equalised each time and then won turnover ball giving them the upperhand.

The second half was a battle royal with great tagging especially by Bown, King and Field leading to turnover ball but they were repeatedly denied until finally a try came for Field. Loughborough were unlucky to lose but should be proud of their play and sportsmanship throughout.